Battle of Montmartre

Battle of Montmartre
Part of the War of the Sixth Coalition
Date March 30, 1814 Location Clichy and Montmartre in Paris, France Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
French Empire	Sixth Coalition: Austria Kingdom of Prussia, Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey, Auguste Marmont	Karl v. Schwarzenberg, Tsar Alexander I, King Frederick William
Strength
23,000	107,000

The Battle of Montmartre was fought on March 30, 1814, between Allied forces and the forces of Napoleon's French Empire. The Allies were victorious, entering Paris, and as a result, Napoleon was soon forced to abdicate.

Background

The two main Allied Armies linked up at Meaux on 28th March 1814, the now 107,000 strong Allied forces began to march on Paris. Only 23,000 troops and incomplete defences defended Paris from the Allies.

Battle

The Allies approached Paris from the eastern and northern sides, Marshal Moncey commanding the National Guard made a stand at Clichy, but his two Corps were beaten back at 4:00 pm and retreated into the Belleville Heights, and the Suburb of Montmartre. At the Suburb of Montmartre Marshal Marmont was in command, and the final action took place at 2:00 am on the 31st March.

Aftermath

Following the final action Marmont opened negotiations with the Allies, which started a series of events leading to Napoleon's abdication. Napoleon was exiled to Elba, but would return to France the next year, leading to the War of the Seventh Coalition.

References

• Chandler, David. Dictionary of the Napoleonic wars. Wordsworth editions, 1999.